Water is used for everything! Our planet is 71% water. Your body is 50%-70% water, your brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and lungs are about 83% water. Skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even our bones have around 31% H2O! Water is truly one of the most important chemical compounds in existence. We need it not just to live, but in order for the species to exist at all. You can’t lose weight without water! Water flushes out the by-products of fat breakdown and boosts your metabolism.
There are many benefits to staying hydrated while on a ketogenic diet. Drinking Water is important as it may help the body to more quickly metabolize fat. Being hydrated also means you’re less likely to mistake thirst for hunger; water can suppress appetite and curb cravings! H2O helps put less stress on the kidneys. Your kidneys filter all the junk out of your blood; so make their life easier by drinking more water and help your kidneys continue to work smoothly. Lastly, drinking water can improve “keto breath”. More water helps reduce the effect of acetate on your breath and keeps your breath fresh.
Drinking water is great for your health but how about some tricks to help you drink more water!
• Keep Water Close: It’s easier to drink water if it is always around. Keep a water glass near you and full at all times and you will be surprised at how much more you will drink each day just by having it around.
• Drink your water through a straw – you’ll consume more water and less air!
• Have an 8 oz. glass of water before each meal. It helps fill you up.
• Try adding flavor to your water. Stay away from anything with sugar obviously, but you can add lemon, lime or herbs. Some fun combinations are: mint and cucumber or lemon and ginger Also, if you haven’t tried Ideal Protein Water Enhancers, give them a try. They come in Tangerine or Mangosteen flavors and have added electrolytes!
• Adding a little salt to your water will make it taste better and can help your body retain more of it. Just a pinch is all you will need.
Weakness, dizziness and headaches are almost always caused by dehydration. So please drink up! Not only will all that water help you lose weight, but you’ll also enjoy healthier skin, lubricated joints, clearer thinking, and a whole host of health benefits. If you exercise, try adding IP BCAA’s to a large glass of water; they are excellent for building muscle and can also give you a boost of energy!
*As with anything, too much of a good thing, including water, can actually lead to bad consequences. Water intoxication, also known as hyponatremia is a condition in which overconsumption of water overwhelms the kidneys. This can be prevented if a person’s intake of water does not grossly exceed their losses. An easy way to gauge adequate hydration is by monitoring the color of your urine. Very dark, odorous urine is often a sign of dehydration. Hunger is another clue; the body can often confuse thirst cues for hunger so the next time you are tempted to reach for a snack, try a glass of water first instead. When you are properly hydrated your urine is the color of pale lemonade. Clear urine that looks like water is usually a sign of over hydration.